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a small shelter or house, made of wood and situated in a wild or remote area.

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people say you don't really need it, but they recommend a dehumidifier.

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East Texas is often considered the westernmost extension of the Deep South. The predominant cultural influence comes from customs and traditions passed down from European-American and African-American Southerners who settled the region during the mid-to-late 19th century.

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Wood is one of the longest standing building materials

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Wood is one of the longest standing building materials

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Wood has been used for over 10,000 years as a material for building.

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Wood is one of the longest standing building materials in existence, with evidence showing homes built over 10,000 years ago used timber as a primary source for construction materials.

Europe's Neolithic long house--a long, narrow timber dwelling built in 6000 BC-- is an excellent example. As one of the largest buildings during that period, the Neolithic long house was solid and massive, with a capacity of housing around 30 people.

Since then, the discovery of different elements such as bronze and steel have changed and improved the way wood is applied to building construction. Wood continues to be used to create both modest buildings such as the log cabin, and impressive structures such as Chinese temples. Boasting its environmentally friendly, renewable and extremely durable features, wood remains an extremely popular choice for both buildings and furnishings.

Take a look at the Living with Wood: From the Beginning of Time infographic below to learn more about the history of wood and homes.
Infographic courtesy of logcabinhub.com

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A History of Wood from the Stone Age to the 21st Century

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Wood is one of the longest standing building materials in existence, with evidence showing homes built over 10,000 years ago used timber as a primary source for construction materials. Europe's Neolithic long house--a long, narrow timber dwelling built in 6000 BC-- is an excellent example.

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The first log cabins in the Americas were built by emigrants from Sweden and Finland. Log cabins had been built in these countries for thousands of years.

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The first log cabins in the Americas were built by emigrants from Sweden and Finland. Log cabins had been built in these countries for thousands of years.

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Kids learn about the log cabin of the Old West. A single room home built from tree trunks and mud using no nails.

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A dehumidifier works by absorbing the drawing warm air in and cooling it, typically by a fan, before containing it within.

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Timber – a durable and hardwearing wood which is easy to work with.                                                    Cedar – a dense and lightweight wood which is resistant to decay.                                                       Pine – an attractive wood which is also inexpensive.                                                                   Oak – a durable wood which is resistant to insect damage.

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Timber – a durable and hardwearing wood which is easy to work with.                                                    Cedar – a dense and lightweight wood which is resistant to decay.                                                       Pine – an attractive wood which is also inexpensive.                                                                   Oak – a durable wood which is resistant to insect damage.

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Wood responds to the climate in East Texas differently

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Wood responds to the climate in East Texas differently

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The moisture content of wood changes in response to relative humidity. When the air is humid, the wood absorbs moisture and swells. Or it Shrinks and swells, the wood changes moisture content in response to daily as well as seasonal changes in the relative humidity of the atmosphere.

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 East Texas receives more rainfall, 35 to 60 inches (890 to 1,520 mm), than the rest of Texas.

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 East Texas receives more rainfall, 35 to 60 inches (890 to 1,520 mm), than the rest of Texas.

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The location of Texas with relation to the North American continent, the warm Gulf of Mexico, and the not-far-distant Pacific Ocean guarantees a constant exchange of settled and unstable weather. The state's varied physiography, from the forests of the east and the Coastal Plain in the south to the elevated plateaus and basins in the north and west, also brings a wide variety of weather on almost any day of the year. Because of its expansive and topographically diverse nature, Texas offers continental, marine, and mountain-type climates. West of the Caprock on the High Plains, a continental climate, marked by cold winters and low humidity, predominates. In the Trans-Pecos, a form of mountain climate is found. The eastern two-thirds of Texas, on the other hand, has a humid, subtropical climate that is occasionally interrupted by intrusions of cold air from the north. Though variations in climate across Texas are considerable, they are nonetheless gradual.

Precipitation is not evenly distributed over the state, and variations in precipitation at any one locale from year to year are apt to be pronounced. The mean annual precipitation varies from a statewide maximum of 59.20 inches at Orange, in the lower Sabine River valley of East Texas, to a minimum of 7.82 inches at El Paso, at the western tip of the state. The mean annual rainfall distribution correlates roughly with longitude and varies little from north to south across Texas. Generally, annual precipitation decreases about an inch for each fifteen-mile displacement from east to west. The Trans-Pecos is the driest region in the state, with an average annual regionwide precipitation of 11.65 inches, while the Upper Coast (45.93 inches) and East Texas (44.02 inches) are the wettest. At most locations rainfall for any single month will vary appreciably from the norm. Likewise, the number of days with precipitation usually is significantly abnormal. Moreover, the number of "rain days" follows the general trend of rainfall totals in that seasonal frequencies of rain days are lowest when rainfall totals are lowest. The mean number of days in January with at least .1 inch of precipitation varies from seven in East Texas to one or fewer in the Trans-Pecos; in July rain days normally are as numerous in the mountainous Trans-Pecos as in East Texas and along the upper coast. Particularly in the western half of Texas, one or two rainstorms often account for nearly all of a month's rainfall. The wet season does not occur at the same time of year in all parts of Texas. Intense and prolific thunderstorms, often moving in "squall lines," roam much of Texas in the late spring; Central, North, and East Texas receive their maximum rainfall in May. The warmest time of year is also the wettest for the High Plains and Trans-Pecos; nearly three-fourths of the total annual precipitation in these regions occurs from May to October. Tropical weather disturbances ensure that the late summer and early autumn are the two wettest periods for the part of Texas within 100 miles of the Gulf.

On the other hand, winter is the driest time of the year in nearly all of Texas. The exception is East Texas, where rainfall typically is the least substantial in July and August. December or January is normally the driest month on the High and Low Rolling Plains, as well as on the Edwards Plateau. The dry season peaks somewhat later farther east in north central and south central Texas, while on the coastal plains March is the driest month. Early spring (March-April) is normally very dry in the Trans-Pecos; in fact, in this semiarid region, rainless spells often last several weeks at a time, and two or even three months can elapse without significant rain. Since much of the annual rainfall occurs quickly, excessive runoff often leads to flooding. The broad, flat valleys in the eastern half of Texas, where mean annual rainfall exceeds twenty-five to thirty inches, sustain comparatively slow runoff. When rain is heavy, these valleys store vast amounts of water before slowly releasing it into the streams. The resulting flat-crested, slow-moving flood in the lower basins causes protracted periods of inundation. By contrast, in the western half of Texas, where ground and tree cover is sparse and stream slopes are typically quite steep, high-intensity rains produce rapid runoff that frequently leads to flash flooding. The area along the Balcones Escarpment (from Austin south to San Antonio, then west to Del Rio) is one of the nation's three most flash-flood-prone regions.

Snowfall occurs at least once every winter in the northern half of Texas, although accumulations rarely are substantial except in the High Plains. Snow is not uncommon in the mountainous areas of the Trans-Pecos, though heavy snows (five inches or more) come only once every two or three winters. More often than not, snow falling in the southern half of the state melts and does not stick to the surface; snow stays on the ground only once or twice in every decade. Snowfall rarely is observed before early November and hardly ever occurs after mid-April. Where it is not uncommon, snow is almost always heaviest in either January or February. Mean seasonal snowfall is 15-18 inches in the Texas Panhandle and 4-8 inches elsewhere in the High and Low Rolling Plains.

Temperatures vary considerably among the ten climatic regions of Texas. Few or no areas of Texas escape freezing weather in any winter. On the other hand, the heat of summer is intense everywhere. Whereas precipitation varies longitudinally across Texas, mean annual temperature varies latitudinally. On a year-around basis, readings are the coolest in the extreme north and warmest in the far south. In mid-winter the mean daily minimum temperature varies between the upper teens in the northern periphery of the Panhandle and the low fifties in the lower Rio Grande valley; afternoon highs range from the upper forties in the extreme north to near seventy in the far south. Conversely, summer lows in the Panhandle average in the low sixties and, in the lower Valley, in the middle to upper seventies; daytime highs reach into the low nineties in both regions. All-time temperature extremes in Texas include: -23° F at Tulia (1899) and Seminole (1933) and 120° at Seymour (1936) and Monahans (1994). Extended periods (more than one or two days) of subfreezing highs are rare, even in the far north. However, parts of the Panhandle generally have subfreezing temperatures for many successive winter nights. The mean number of days with freezing temperatures in the northern High Plains is 120. In this region the first autumn freeze ordinarily occurs at the end of October, and the last freeze in spring takes place in mid-April. The "freeze-free" season lengthens with distance north-to-south down the state. The mean number of days with freezes is forty to fifty-five in north central Texas and twenty to twenty-five in south central Texas. In some years the temperature never reaches the freeze level in the Valley. Even when it does, it almost always remains below 32° F for only four to six hours or less, usually around sunrise.

Air-conditioning is desirable in all parts of Texas, as temperatures everywhere climb into the nineties numerous times in July and August. Only on Galveston Island and in the highest elevations of the Trans-Pecos do summer daytime temperatures normally fail to rise above the eighties. Nighttime readings in summer are comfortable in West Texas, where less humid air allows the temperature to drop abruptly into the sixties after sunset. In the eastern half of Texas, however, much more humid air prevents nighttime readings from dropping lower than the middle or low seventies. Heat is usually most intense in the basins of the upper Rio Grande (within and upstream of Big Bend National Park) and in the upper Red River valley, where daytime highs in summer often soar well above 100° F. Triple-digit highs are also very common in South Texas from mid-May until late September.

All of the Texas coastline is subject to the threat of hurricanes and lesser tropical storms during the summer and autumn. Vulnerability reaches a maximum during August and September, the height of the hurricane season in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Hurricanes strike the Texas coast an average of one every three years. Inland, hurricanes cause damage due to high winds, including tornadoes, and flooding from excessive rainfall. Persons along the coast must also contend with storm tides.

Although tornadoes can occur anytime, most of them materialize during April, May, and June. In a normal year, about 130 tornadoes are sighted in Texas, 30 percent of which occur in May. On average, about 200 people are hurt and a dozen are killed annually by the twisters. Tornadoes are most likely to occur along and south of the Red River between Lubbock and Dallas; they are least likely in the Trans-Pecos. Thunderstorms occur in every month of the year, though least in winter. With an average of sixty thunderstorm days a year, East Texas is most susceptible to the severe localized phenomena fostered by the storm (hail, high winds, flash flooding). The mean annual number of thunderstorm days diminishes from east to west across Texas; the Trans-Pecos has only about forty such days each year. The lower Valley has fewer still (thirty). The peak hail frequency statewide is in May. Most hailstorms are short-lived, however, since the macroscale weather systems (such as squall lines) that generate hail move rapidly. Hailstones are usually largest in the High Plains, where hail the size of tennis balls-even baseballs-is not uncommon in the summer. Sunshine is most abundant in the extreme west, where El Paso receives an average of 80 percent of the total possible sunshine annually. Cloud cover is most prevalent along the coast, especially in the Upper Coast, where the mean annual sunshine amounts to only about 60 percent of possible.

The voluminous records kept by Spanish Texas officials mentioned the weather directly; however, through the years various other sources-diaries, travel accounts, correspondence, newspapers, and medical records of military posts-reveal that the weather in Texas was of concern to early explorers, missionaries, dignitaries, Anglo-American colonists, other immigrants, and temporary residents. By 1855 Texas had twenty-one weather stations reporting data that were published. The stations decreased in number during the Civil War, and by February 9, 1870, when federal weather service officially began, Texas had fourteen weather stations at scattered settlements and military posts. Congress passed an act on October 1, 1890, transferring all meteorological services formerly carried on by the army signal corps to a newly constituted weather bureau under the secretary of agriculture, effective July 1, 1891. Texas had seventy-eight stations in 1890 and 112 in 1900; the number of stations continued to increase until by the early 1970s there were about a thousand weather observers around the state, mostly private citizen volunteers reporting to the federal government, in addition to forty-one major stations and offices operated by the federal weather bureau (which in 1971 became a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). In addition, the United States Air Force air-weather service maintained stations at military installations in Texas. By 1995 the number of stations had been reduced to ten. Offices were maintained at El Paso, Brownsville, San Angelo, Midland, Amarillo, Lubbock, Corpus Christi, New Braunfels, Houston, and Dallas. See also DROUGHTS, PALEOENVIRONMENTS, WEATHER MODIFICATION.

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The location of Texas with relation to the North American continent, the warm Gulf of Mexico, and the not-far-distant Pacific Ocean guarantees a constant exchange of settled and unstable weather.

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Wood, it's strong, efficient, and renewable 

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Wood, it's strong, efficient, and renewable 

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It is an incredibly durable material and can provide a strong structure for buildings.
(first article, before edited)

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Wood is a versatile and cost-effective material used in a huge variety of applications and situations. There are a number of benefits to using wood in architecture, and so there are many different varieties of the material used in many structures.

There benefits associated with the use of wood in the construction and architecture include wood being:

Awareness has grown of the importance of using renewable materials in all areas of life, including construction and architecture. Wood is a renewable material and uses less energy and resources to process compared to many other building materials. As wood has the capacity to store and remove CO2 from the atmosphere, it can have a particularly beneficial impact on the environment.

It is no accident that wood has been used in construction for thousands of years. It is an incredibly durable material and can provide a strong structure for buildings. Wood can actually be better at supporting its own weight than other materials such as steel.

It is an excellent insulator, and can be built faster than many other materials.

There are numerous examples of innovative and interesting wooden structures, including:

SunnyHills, Japan. This cake shop in Tokyo, Japan is an excellent example of innovative architecture using wood. The structure was designed by Japanese architect, Kengo Kuma and is formed from 5,000 m of wooden strips which wrap around the three-storey building creating a lattice effect. The structure is reminiscent of a bamboo basket and was created using the Jiigokugumi technique which fits the slats together with the use of glue or nails.

Tamedia Office Building, Switzerland. The seven-storey building in Zurich, Switzerland uses timber in an innovative way to create a stylish yet sustainable building. The wood is well and truly on display to passers by, but the incredible part of the building is inside where the design has created thermal barriers, allowing for the heating and cooling of the space through the extraction of air.

Forté, Australia, This apartment building is constructed from cross laminated timber and stands at 32.2 m tall. It is estimated that the wood in the building will store 761 tonnes of CO2, making it a fantastic benefit to the environment.

Many different types of wood can be used in construction and architecture, however, there are some types that have proved to be more popular for their beneficial properties, including:

Wood has been a popular construction material for thousands of years, and it seems as though it is becoming more popular as we become more aware of the impact of other building materials on the environment.

-- G&S Specialist Timber 16:53, 06 Dec 2017 (BST)

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Wood in Architecture - Designing Buildings - Share your construction industry knowledge. Wood is a versatile and cost-effective material used in a huge variety of applications and situations. There are a number of benefits to using wood in architecture, and so there are many different varieties of the material used in many structures.

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Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License , Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts.

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Ash is also great for woodworking because of its flexibility and its ability to bend. This is unique to hardwood, especially ones as hard as ash.

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Known for being able to grow in a wide variety of environments, different varieties of oak trees occur everywhere from humid beaches to chilly forests. In addition, sturdy oak timber has been used for centuries in building projects. Learning about all the different oak varieties will help you spot them in the wild and appreciate all that the beautiful trees have to offer.

TL;DR (Too Long; Didn't Read)

Including hybridized oak trees, there are about 600 different types of oak varieties around the world, including about 90 that are native to the United States.

While oak trees grow around the world, North America is home to the widest variety of species. The United States alone has about 90 different types of native oak trees that grow across the country. Most of those are categorized into either red oaks or white oaks. One of the most popular oak trees in the U.S. is the Angel Oak on Johns Island in South Carolina. Believed to be about 400 years old, the tree draws thousands of visitors eager to see the 65-foot-tall tree in all its fairy-tale glory.

Most of these species in the U.S. are recognizable by their elongated, lobed oak tree leaves, sturdy trunks and ability to produce acorns. Those acorns were an important natural resource for the Native Americans. Several tribes pounded the acorns into flour that they then used to make nutritious bread. Even now, some people still use acorns to make flour, especially if they are allergic to flour made from ingredients like wheat. Acorns are also an important food source for the many birds and small mammals that rely on the crunchy nut for a hearty and nutritious meal.

Oak trees also grow in Asia, North Africa and Europe. China is home to about 100 different types of oak trees, and several European countries have designated different types of oaks as their national trees. All in all, there are about 600 different types of oak trees around the world, growing in environments from Mediterranean beaches to Asian forests.

England is home to especially old oak trees. One, the Crouch Oak, is said to be a spot under which Queen Elizabeth I once had a picnic. Another, the Major Oak of Sherwood Forest, is the tree under which local folklore claims that Robin Hood took shelter.

Oak tree bark is incredibly resilient against rotting, and for this reason, is a favorite bark for building all kinds of materials. In Japan, oak tree bark is often used to make drums because its density gives the instrument the perfect sound. Oak tree bark is also commonly used to make the barrels that store alcohol such as whisky, scotch and sherry. Wine makers also take special care to choose which type of oak they use for their barrels, since different types can add oaky, earthy flavors to wine over time. Back in Viking times, the Vikings recognized its strength and resilience, and often used it when building their battleships.

In addition to bark, oak trees also provide acorns, an important food source for many birds and animals. For centuries, farms across Europe have fed their pigs a diet consisting largely of acorns. When the pigs are turned into pork, the acorn diet helps give that meat a rich, nutty taste. Many farms in the U.S. are now also turning to acorns to sustain their pigs.

However, you don't need to be a pig or a whiskey-maker to enjoy the natural resources of an oak tree. Next time you see one, take a moment to sit under its shade and take in its natural beauty.

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Oak trees are known for being strong and resilient, which is one of the reasons that more than 600 different types of oak trees exist all around the world. Throughout time, oaks have provided people with shade, sturdy bark for building and acorns that have been an important food source.

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Pine, Cypress and Cedar are the most used species of woods when it comes to building cabins.

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Pine, Cypress and Cedar are the most used species of woods when it comes to building cabins.

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Modern log cabins are usually constructed from softwoods such as cedars and spruces.

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By Log Cabin Homes

Building a Log Home for you and your family can be one of the most rewarding experience you will ever have. This home should be a direct reflection of who you are. So when it comes time to make important decisions about this home, you will want to have all the knowledge available to make these decisions in a way that works. One of the first selections you will make is what species of wood you will use. When you are choosing a wood species for your log home, some things to consider that will effect your decision are your budget, your geographical location, and most importantly, your taste and desires.

The Original Log Cabin Homes always strives to make the exact vision you have of your dream home become the reality. Many log homes companies will offer you one specific type of wood giving you a long list of reasons on why it's the best wood species in which to build your home. Some of those reasons may be correct but truly saying that one species of wood is superior to another isn't necessarily the case. There are pros and cons to all species and, while I'm at it, every manufacturer. One thing that The Original Log Cabin Homes take great pride in is that we offer a wide variety of wood species. Take it from the company who offers them all and ask an Original Log Cabin Homes representative about the options and they can help you make an educated decision on what species to use.
The options:
The most common species used in the log home industry is Pine, Cypress and Cedar. Of those, Pine is the majority of what is used. The Original Log Cabin Homes uses Eastern White Pine as a standard. It is beautiful and durable, plus it performs well in all parts of the United States. It is the most economical simply because it is the most readily available. It is the least resinous of all pines and is very dimensionally stable if it is cured/dried correctly.

Cypress and Cedar can be considered more of a "Premium" wood. Both have natural qualities, not possessed by pine, that gives both of these species a special edge compared to other species. Both have a natural resistance to decay and insects, but don't let that be the deciding factor. These species are at a slightly different price range than pine.

The Original Log Cabin Homes offers the most diverse list of wood species in the industry, offering Eastern white pine, Western Red Cedar, Northern White Cedar, Bald Cypress, Redwood, spruce, Douglas fir, and many more. These different options give you the unique look you are trying to achieve and offer the properties best to suit your building environment.

As I learn more and more about this company I now work for, I can honestly say that The Original Log Cabin Homes has the most versatile offerings available. Our staff knows the product, they know the species, and are able to help you make an informed decision. You don't have to compromise on taste and can feel confident about the selection of species for your dream home.

We currently have 7 Full-Time Log Homes Council certified graders on our team inspecting materials throughout several stages of the milling process. They inspect each log to ensure that it meets or exceeds all of the Log Homes Council grading standards. By keeping true to our commitments to our customers, Log Cabin Homes offers only the finest quality log homes available. The durability of our homes makes your home an investment and a legacy enjoyable for generations to come. We are here to advise you in choosing the species of wood that best meets your budget and style. Contact us today for a personal log home living consultation. We've been helping people get back to nature since 1987.

Until Next Time,
Jennifer

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Choosing a Wood Species - The Original Log Cabin Homes

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By Log Cabin Homes Building a Log Home for you and your family can be one of the most rewarding experience you will ever have. This home should be a direct reflection of who you are.

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 East Texas is gently rolling to hilly in the north and central areas, becoming flatter near the Gulf of Mexico.

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 East Texas is gently rolling to hilly in the north and central areas, becoming flatter near the Gulf of Mexico.

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topography (elevation) in East Texas is not great

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The pine forest lands or "Pineywoods" of East Texas extend from the Red River in the northeast corner of the state, southward to the region bordering Galveston Bay, and from the Louisiana border on the east to the Black Prairie region on the west. As shown in the maps below, this area includes all or portions of 44 Texas counties.

Although there are a few isolated pockets in other parts of the state (the woods at Bastrop State Park in Central Texas and in the far western Trans-Pecos regions being notable examples), Texas pine forests are contained in the eastern part of the state because of favorable soil conditions. Bordering the Pineywoods on the west is a band of hardwood forest commonly referred to as the Post Oak Belt. Outside this belt is the first true grassland, known as the Black Prairie, characterized by a deep black lime-rich soil over limestone and marl, a combination of soil and substrate that deters the encroachment of pine into the area.

The Pineywoods region encompasses the four National Forests in Texas: the Angelina, Davy Crockett, Sabine, and Sam Houston. Together these four forests cover a total of 637,386 acres in south and central East Texas, and include portions of Angelina, Houston, Jasper, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Newton, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity, and Walker counties.

The topography in East Texas is gently rolling to hilly in the north and central areas, becoming flatter near the Gulf of Mexico. It is a well-watered area and contains the Angelina, Neches, Sabine, and Trinity rivers as well as many creeks and bayous. This varied terrain—from dry to moist uplands, to creek and riverbottoms, to swamp forest communities—produces quite different groupings of vegetation. In their illustrated 1985 volume, Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of East Texas, Elray Nixon and Bruce Cunningham organize the vegetation of East Texas into plant communities based on terrain, soil, and moisture conditions. These are described below.

Hardwoods tend to be dominant in the dry upland areas, where the soil is sandy and well drained. Post oak ( Quercus stellata), black hickory (Carya texana), blackjack oak (Q. marilandica), sandjack oak (Q. incana), and black oak (Q. velutina) are among the most common species. Pines also grow with some frequency in this area, with shortleaf (Pinus echinata) found in the north and central areas and longleaf (P. palustris) in the southeast. Other trees are sweetgum (Liquidamber styraciflua), red mulberry (Morus rubra), woollybucket bumelia (Bumelia lanuginosa), southern red oak (Q.falcata), sassafras (Sassafras albidum), winged elm (Ulmus alata), and rusty blackhaw (Viburnum rujidulum).

Loblolly pines ( Pinus taeda) are found in the more moist upland areas where the soil retains more water throughout the year. Other trees growing in this area are southern red oak, sweetgum, winged elm, water oak (Q. nigra), black cherry (Prunus serotina), flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), mockernut hickory (Carya tomentosa), sassafrass, fringetree (Chionanthus virginica), black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), sugar maple (Acer saccharum), and American elm (Ulmus americana). The understory growth in the mesic uplands includes dwarf pawpaw (Asimina parviflora), red buckeye (Aesculus pavia), American beautyberry, poison ivy, bristleleaf blueberry (Vaccinium amoenum), southern wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera), farkleberry, Carolina holly (flex ambigua), common witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana), yaupon, and arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum).

The well-drained, fertile soils of the creek and river bottoms, (the mesic bottomlands) produce dense stands of trees and shrubs. Overstory vegetation (taller trees growing above smaller varieties, shrubs, and vines) includes red maple ( Acer rubrum), white oak (Quercus alba), swamp post oak (Quercus lyrata), American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana), river birch (Betula nigra), bitternut hickory (carya cordiformis), American beech (Fagus grandiflora), American holly, sweetgum, black gum, sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana), water oak, and prickly ash. In the understory are a variety of shrubs and vines including American beautyberry, deciduous holly (Ilex decidua), common pawpaw (Asimina triloba), giant cane (Arundinaria gigantea), farkelberry, poison ivy, Virginia creeper, muscadine grape, laurel greenbrier (Smilex laurifolia), and Carolina snailseed.

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The pine forest lands or "Pineywoods" of East Texas extend from the Red River in the northeast corner of the state, southward to the region bordering Galveston Bay, and from the Louisiana border on the east to the Black Prairie region on the west.

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Hot and humid summers, and cool to mild winters.

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The principal forest region in Texas is called the East Texas Piney Woods, due to the abundance of pine-hardwood in the region.